Presser device for sewing machines



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@BESSER DEVICEFOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 13. 193'? 2 sheets-sheet l 3 vwo/who@ @www Heder ich FMax Sephz, 1939. rf, F, MAX

PREssER DEVICE Fon SEWING MACHINES Filed April 13, 1937 2 SheacS-Shet 2 l mmm Hederich FMG/Jb Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES rar-ENT OFFICE Singer Manufacturing Company,

Elizabeth,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 13, 1937, Serial No. 136,535

10 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to presser-devices for sewing machines which will lfacilitate the passage of the work through the machine by the feeding mechanism.

Certain materials, such, for example, as rubberized fabrics, imitation leather and patent leather`have surfaces which are more or less tacky and which, therefore, during their passage through a sewing machine, tend to adhere to the work-engaging surface of a conventional presserfoot. This both interferes with vthe manipulation of the wo-rkand places an additional and objectionable drag on the work.

This invention has as an object to overcome that difficulty, and to that end it proposes the provision of a presser-device having a movable work-engaging surface adapted to travel with thework as it passes through the machine. Furthermore this invention proposes novel means for breaking the adhesive contact between the work and the movable contact surface of the presserdevice as the successive portions of the work pass from beneath the presser-device.

Preferably the movable contact surface of the presser-device comprises a continuous belt-like member passing beneath the under surface of a presser-foot secured upon the lower end of the `usual presser-bar, thence upwardly behind the bracket-arm head andover guide-rollers carried by a bracket secured upon the upper end of the presser-bar, and thence downwardly in front of the bracket-arm head and again beneath the presser-foot. This construction avoids all sharp bends in the belt which would interfere with its free movement and it also insures that the belt will be lifted bodily with the presser-foot and will remain' taut when the foot is lifted.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages obtained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a conventional sewing machine fitted with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a left end elevation, partly in section, of the Vmachine illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing the improved presser mechanism cooperating with a conventional four-motioned feeding mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a detail horizontal sectional View taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. l, and illustrating the use of a so-called right-hand presserfoot, i. e., a presser-foot located at the righthand side of the needle.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the use of a so-called left-hand presser-foot, it being understood-that the rightand left-hand presser-feet shown in Figs. 3 and 4 may be used interchangeably for different sewing conditions. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the righthand presser-foot shown in Figs, l, 2 and 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal sectional View taken substantially on the line 6--6 of Fig. l, illustrating the Yadjustable mounting of one of the beltsupporting and -guiding rollers later to be described.

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 'I-l of Fig. 2.

ReferringV more specifically to the drawings, the invention is disclosed as embodied in a sewing machine comprising a frame including a bed I, standard 2, overhanging bracket-arm 3, bracket-arm head 4 and a work-supporting plate 5. Located beneath the work-supporting plate and actuated from a suitable drive shaft (not shown) is a conventional four-motioned feeding mechanism comprising a feed-bar 6 and a feeddog l carried thereby. 'I'he feed-bar and the feed-dog are adapted to be given vertical movements from an eccentric 8, and horizontal backward and forward movements by an eccentric 9, both carried by the drive shaft. Mounted within the head 4 is a vertically reciprocating needlebar ID, carrying an eye-pointed needle II which cooperates with complemental loop-taking mechanism located beneath the work-plate and illustrated as a conventional chain-stitch looper I2 adapted to be actuated by any suitable mechanism. The needle-bar may be actuated by any suitable driving mechanism, such for example as by a crank-arm I3 secured upon a rock-shaft I4 and connected with the needle-bar by a link I5.

Mounted to move vertically in bearings I6, carried by the head 4, isa presser-bar I'I which normally is pressed downwardly by a leaf-spring I8 which bears upon the presser-bar, either directly or through the medium of a ball I9 as shown in Fig. 7. Means, designated generally as is provided for raising the presser-bar and parts carried thereby from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to the position indicated by dotted lines.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings,

the improved right-hand presser-device comprises a. presser-foot consisting of a shank portion 2|, secured to the presser-bar by a screw 22, and a sole-portion 23 hinged to the shank portion, as by a pivot-pin 24. The sole-portion 23 is formed with a substantially horizontal part 23H, an upturned toe 23b and an upturned heel 23a. The toe and heel portions terminate in horizontally disposed free ends 23d and 23e, respectively. These ends are formed with transverse guideslots 23f and 23g, respectively, and the sole-portionV is provided, at its under side, with a longitudinal guide-channel 23h aligned with the slots 23t and 23g. These guide-slots and the guidechannel are adapted to receive and guide a continuous belt-like member 25 adapted to pass beneath the presser-foot between the foot and the work and which serves as a movable work-engaging surface of the presser-device. The outer ends of the portions 23d and 23e are slotted as at 23i to permit insertion of the member 25 into the guide-slots 23f and 23S. The toe portion 23b is inclined upwardly from the sole-portion at an angle of approximately degrees and the two are connected together by a gradually curved portion 23k. The heel portion 23c extends upwardly from the sole-portion at an angle of approximately 30 degrees and is connected thereto by a gradually curved portion 23m. 'I'his construction affords a slideway for the belt 25 which is devoid of sharp turns and which effectively breaks any adhesive contact, which might be made between the under side of the belt and the upper side of the work, as the work passes from beneath the presserdevice.

Secured to the upper end of the presser-bar I1, as by screw 26, is a bracket 21 comprising a` hub 21a, horizontal arms 21", 21c and an upright arm 21d. The belt 25 travels upwardly and rearwardly from the heel-portion of the presser-foot 20 and passes over a roller 28 rotatably supported by the arm' 21h, thence upwardly and forwardly over a roller 29 carried by the arm 21d and thence downwardly and forwardy over a roller 30 carried by the arm 21, from whence it passes downwardly and under the presser-foot. The rollers 28 and 30 are journaled on xed studs 3| and 32, respectively, while the roller 29 is journaled upon a stud 33 adjustably mounted in a vertical slot 34 formed in the arm 21Cl and held in adjusted position by-a clamp nut 35. 'I'he adjustment of the roller 29 serves as means to tighten the belt 25 when initially assembling the device and later to take up any looseness therein due to stretch in the belt.

Inasmuch as the presser-foot 23 and the rollers 28, 29 and 30 are rigidly connected with the presser-bar l1 the entire presser-device, including the belt 25, may be lifted as a unit from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to the position indicated by dotted lines, without slackening the belt 25.

Another important feature of this invention is the path of travel of the belt 25 whereby all sharp turns and bends are avoided and the belt therefore is maintained freely movable by the work under the influence of the feeding mechanisrn.

For certain classes of work it is desirable to have the presser-device located at the right of the needle as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. For other work it may be advantageous to have the presser-device located at the left of the needle, as shown in Fig. 4. Therefore, there is provided,

in addition to the right foot 23, a left foot 36 shown in Fig. 4.

Aside from the fact that, in the foot 36, the shank, which is adapted to be secured to the presser-bar I1, is located at the right side of the foot instead of at the left side thereof, as in the foot 23, and the needle-aperture is located adjacent the opposite edge of the sole-portion, the two feet are similar in construction. Like reference numerals therefore have been applied to the corresponding parts of the two feet. The feet 23 and 36 may be selectively and alternatively secured to the presser-bar and caused to cooperate with the movable contact member 25 without making any other changes in the presser mechanism. This interchangeability is facilitated by the construction of the rollers 28, 29 and 30 which, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6, have traction surfaces materially wider than the belt 25 and which therefore permit the belt to move laterally thereon from the position shown in Fig. 3 and in full lines in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 4 and indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6, and conversely.

If desired, a combined right and left presserfoot may be provided having belt-guiding slots and a belt-guiding channel at each side of the needle as shown separately in Figs. 3 and 4. Likewise, if desired, two belts 25 may be used simultaneously with the combined right and left presser-foot.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that this invention affords an improved presser-device for sewing machines which will effectively prevent tackly work from adhering to a fixed portion of a contact surface by providing a circulatory work-engaging element which is freely movable with the work and which is so guided that it will automatically break whatever adhesion may have been made between the work and the belt, as the work passes from beneath the presser-foot.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:-

1. A presser-device for sewing machines comprising a presser-bar, a presser-foot secured to one end thereof, a bracket secured to the other end of said presser-bar, guide means carried by said bracket, and a continuous work-engaging element passing beneath said presser-foot and over said guide means.

2. A presser-device for sewing machines comprising a presser-bar, a presser-foot secured to one end thereof and having heel and toe portions provided with aligned guide-slots, a bracket secured to the other end of said presser-bar, guide means carried by said bracket, and a continuous circulatory work-engaging element passing through said guide-slots, beneath said presserfoot and over said guide means.

3. A presser-device for sewing machines comprising a presser-bar, a presser-foot secured to one end thereof, a bracket secured to the other end of said presser-bar, spaced guide-rollers carried by said bracket, one of said guide-rollers being adjustably mounted on said bracket, and a continuous work-engaging element passing beneath said presser-foot and over Said guiderollers.

4. A presser-device for sewing machines comprising a presser-bar, a presser-foot secured to one end thereof and having heel and toe portions provided with guide-slots, a bracket secured to the other end of said presser-bar, triangularly arranged guide-rollers carried by said bracket, and

fi i) a continuous belt-like work-engaging element passing through said guide-slots and beneath said pressure-foot and over said guide-rollers, one of said rollers being adjustably mounted on said bracket and shiftable to tighten said beltlike element.

5. A presser mechanism for sewing machines including a presser-bar, a roller carried by the upper end of said presser-bar, a presser-foot secured to the lower end of said presser-bar, said presser-foot including a sole portion having upturned toe and heel portions each provided with a guide-slot, and a continuous circulatory workengaging member passing through said guideslots and beneath said sole-portion and over the v roller carried by the presser-bar.

6. A presser mechanism for sewing machines including a presser-bar, a presser-foot secured to the lower end thereof, said presser-foot comprising a sole-portion, a toe portion extending upwardly and forwardly from said sole-portion at an angle of approximately forty-rive degrees and a heel portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from said sole-portion at an angle of approximately thirty degrees, said toe and heel portions each being provided with a guide-slot, and a continuous circulatory work-engaging member passing through said guide-slots and beneath said sole-portion.

7. In a sewing machine having a head, stitchforming mechanism and work-feeding mechanism; a presser-bar mounted in said head, a presser-foot secured to the lower end of said presser-bar, a bracket secured to the upper end of said presser-bar, guide-rollers carried by said bracket, one roller being located rearwardly of said head and another forwardly thereof, and a continuous belt-like member encircling said head and passing over said guide-rollers and beneath said presser-foot, said member serving as a movable work-engaging surface between said presserfoot and the work advanced by said feeding mechanism.

8. In a sewing m-achine having a head, stitchforming mechanism including a needle and workfeeding mechanism; a presser-bar mounted in said head, a presser-foot removably secured to the lower end of said presser-bar, and provided with a guidevvay, a bracket secured to the upper end of said presser-bar, spaced guide rollers carried by said bracket, and a continuous belt-like work-engaging member encircling said head and passing over said guide-rollers and beneath said presser-foot through the guideway thereon and at one side of said needle, said member serving as a movable work-engaging surface between said presser-foot and the work advanced by said feeding mechanism, said guide-rollers permitting said belt-like member to run to the opposite side of said needle when said presser-foot is replaced by another presser-foot having a similar guideway at the opposite side of the needle.

9. In a sewing machine having a head, stitchiorming mechanism including a needle and workfeeding mechanism; a presser-bar mounted in said head, and adapted alternatively to receive either of two interchangeable presser-feet provided with guideways, respectively, at opposite sides of said needle, a bracket secured to the upper end of said presser-bar, spaced guide-rollers carried by said bracket, a continuous circulatory work-engaging member encircling said head and passing over said guide-rollers and beneath the attached presser-foot and through the guideway therein, said member serving as a movable workengaging surface between the attached presserfoot and the work advanced by said feeding mechanism, said guide-rollers permitting said circulatory work-engaging member to enter the guide- Way in the attached presser-foot.

10. In a sewing machine for stitching work having an adhesive surface, comprising a head, stitch-forming mechanism and work-feeding mechanism; a presser-bar mounted in said head, a presser-foot secured to the lower end of said presser-bar, roller means carried by the upper end of said presser-bar, a continuous belt-like member encircling said head and passing over said roller means and beneath said presser-foot, said member serving as a movable work-engaging surface to prevent contact between the adhesive surface of the Work' and the presser-foot, and means for simultaneously raising said presserbar, presser-foot, roller means and belt-like member without changing their relative positions.

FREDERICH F. MAX. 

